WHITE CANNIBAL QUEEN (1979)
(aka. MONDO CANNIBALE, SEXO CANIBAL, BARBARIAN GODDESS, CANNIBALS, DIE BLONDE GOTTIN, MONDO CANNIBALE 3: DIE BLONDE GOTTIN, UNE FILLE POUR LES CANNIBALES, INFERNO DER KANNIBALEN, EL CANIBAL)

Reviewed By: Devin Kelly

CAST: Al Cliver, Sabrina Siani, Antonio Mayans, Lina Romay, Raymond Hardy, Shirley Knight, Olivier Mathot, Yerome Foulon, Anouchka, Pamela Stanford, Jesus Franco, Anne Marie Rossier

DIRECTOR: Jesus Franco
PRODUCER: Franco Prosperi
A Filman / Eurocine Production
RUNNING TIME: 90 min. 17 seconds
VIDEO SOURCE: Video City Productions

In the jaded world of European cannibal films the overall tone is generally one of seriousness. Well flush that down the toilet here because as serious as this film tries to be, it's impossible to be taken that way. This one's as schlocky as the gut munchers come folks. Oh wait, I haven't yet enjoyed the repugnant reputation of CANNIBAL TERROR (1981). I'll reserve judgement until after I've seen that film.

The prolific and sometimes misunderstood Jess Franco here brings us the first of his two cannibal offerings, casting Italian tough guy Al Cliver in both. God only knows what Cliver could have been thinking while making WHITE CANNIBAL QUEEN. Here, he takes on the role of Jeremy Taylor, a specialist in tropical diseases researching in the desolate and dense jungles on the island of Malabi. I guess he figures the trip can double as a family vacation because he's got his wife Pamela Stanford (PORNO SHOCK '77, CANNIBAL TERROR '81) and daughter Anouchka (ZOMBIE LAKE '80) with him. Together they journey up-river in search of...well nobody's sure as it's never really explained. Sure enough, this habitat is infested with native cannibals and before you know it, they're climbing aboard Cliver's boat to pounce on and eat his wife. Al and his daughter are then taken away by the horde of flesh-eaters where they proceed to hack off one of his arms and eat it in front of him. Cute little Anouchka is cherished and worshipped as a goddess and her life begins as a member of the tribe. The WHITE CANNIBAL QUEEN! Now, the one armed man Cliver has made it his quest years later to travel back to Malabi and find his daughter, who has mysteriously grown up to be hot as hell Sabrina Siani (2020 TEXAS GLADIATORS '82). Must be something good in the Amazonian water.



From top to bottom (of the barrel) Franco's direction is pretty shoddy here. Some of it is pretty damn entertaining though. Oh hell, I'll admit it, WHITE CANNIBAL QUEEN was somewhat of a guilty pleasure for me. Certainly no ZOMBIE (1979) for the usually dependable Al Cliver, he still does what he can with the limitations and kicks a little cannibal ass along the way. And those cannibals...oh those goofy looking cannibals. I didn't know people could pass noticably Spanish extras in multi-colored face paint off as native flesh eating savages. Head honcho cannibal Antonio Mayans (SENSITIVITA '79, THE DEVIL HUNTER '80) has even picked up the English language, shouting maniacally at Cliver saying things like, "You will die! You will die! Slow and painful will be your death. You will be tortured, you will cry, you will bleed...painful death!" The cannibal kills are somewhat hilarious in themselves, with each gory chowdown taking place in (really) slow motion. Not only that but they're accompanied by ridiculous native chants of "ooohhh-aaahhh" and heavy breathing. I guess they were afraid the effects wouldn't be passed off as believable any other way. Hey, this is Franco we're talking about here.


Other than Cliver, a few other recognizable veterans show up to kill a little time. Franco's favorite leading lady Lina Romay (EXORCISM '74, DEMONIAC '79, FACELESS '88) has a supporting role as Cliver's nurse and eventual lover Ana, although for some reason she occasionally calls him Jerry, when his name is supposed to be Jeremy. Her dubbing job is horrible too. Sabrina Siani doesn't get too much screen time or dialogue as the title queen and Antonio Mayans borders on silly as the main cannibal bad guy, but in a campy way. Also on hand is French cult star Olivier Mathot (CANNIBAL TERROR '81, REVENGE IN THE HOUSE OF USHER '82) who is part of a corporation sponsoring Cliver's trek back to Malabi, as long as several of the yuppies can go with him. "And besides, we're all mad to go on a cannibal hunt!", he tells Cliver. Look for Jess Franco in a cameo appearance as businessman Mr. Martin. Roberto Pregadio contributed the jungle drum score, which is typical chanting and pounding but for some reason it oddly catches on after a while.

Although not in league with the heavy hitting cannibal excursions, WHITE CANNIBAL QUEEN is at least fairly entertaining in it's tacky approach. It's sort of fun watching Cliver run around with his arm tucked under his shirt fighting with only the other. It becomes painfully obvious at times however...like when he gets soaking wet! And there's no animal cruelty in this one folks. Believe it or not the BBFC threw this on the Video Nasties list along with it's sibling THE DEVIL HUNTER (1980) over in the UK. I recommend throwing it on your list if you're looking for some kooky Franco insanity. Come on...you know you want to.

 2 1/2 BITCH SLAPS

 

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